Library

The International Theological Institute possesses a steadily and rapidly growing research library of about 25,000 volumes. Reflecting the Institute’s mission, the majority of our holdings are in the areas of theology and philosophy. Sections such as social sciences, fine arts, Christian literature, and history are also significant. The current book collection in the library is the result of the generous gifts of our benefactors and the daily work of our librarian.

A valuable part of the library is the reference book section, which includes the world renown commentaries on Holy Scripture (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, Herders Theologischer Kommentar), the works of the Church Fathers (Patrologia Latina and Patrologia Graeca), and such important series as Ancient Christian Writers, Corpus Christianorum and Fontes Christiani. Among the great texts of the Middle Ages we have editions of the works of Bernard of Clairvaux, Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure, Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham. Modern theological thought is present through a great number of books by such authors as Balthasar, Bouyer, De Lubac, Chenu, Congar, Rahner, Ratzinger and Wojtyla.

Numerous philosophical and theological periodicals are also important research tools for our professors and students. Most volumes are in English and German, but sizable numbers of volumes in Latin, Greek, French and Italian are also on the shelves. The library is organized according to the Library of Congress (LOC) system. It offers an easy and quick access to the whole book collection of the library.

In 2013, a new library section was creatively renovated in the smaller middle floor of the Schloss which includes a circular tower room. The tower room became a sitting area, and the wooden support beams were uncovered and polished to reveal their natural beauty. While the renovation was going on, and thanks to the work of one of our professors, the Dominican Monastery of Graz donated a library of 16,000 volumes to the ITI. The new collection includes works from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries! Many of the early works are in Latin, but the collection also includes titles in German, French, Hebrew and English as well as other languages. Most are theological works. It is an amazing collection to behold and the work of cataloging has just begun.